When you think of a trombone, the chances are you have a very clear idea of your traditional brass instrument with a slide. But did you know that there are actually many different types of trombone? It's true! Trombones actually come in various shapes and sizes, with different ranges to cover a variety of pitches. Are There Different Types Of Trombone? The Vincent Bach, while plastic, is a quality instrument that will last for years and still manages to get a great sound. The next day I telephoned Ron, Katy’s former trombone teacher, and asked him if he would give me a lesson. If I did not do it immediately I would never have the confidence to start. I also asked him if he thought it would be too late for me to learn as I had just turned 55 years old. The reply was “It is never too late!” I am now 71 and all this is before the pBone was developed. Go and try a few plastic trombones at the music store. Better yet, see if you can rent them for a week to get a sense of how they feel and sound. You should be able to get a better idea around what you like and what works for you.

Some players choose plastic trombones because they like the sound. It’s something of a novelty instrument. The trombone itself is green plastic. While the manufacturer didn’t make the slide with brass, it’s made of carbon fiber, so it moves smoothly. You won’t need lubrication to move the slide, improving your playing skills. The contrabass trombone is the lowest and largest member of the trombone family. Because of its low pitch, it has a long length of tubing. The longer slide is limited to five or six positions, meaning two rotary valves are needed for the missing notes by increasing the length of the tubing as needed. It's worth noting that not all of these types of trombone are seen regularly. The contrabass trombone, for instance, is fairly rare in most ensembles. Conversely, the bass trombone and tenor trombone are the most common, with the tenor trombone being the instrument most closely associate with the idea of a trombone. Let's go through the list and explain how each instrument stands out. Piccolo TromboneBreakage isn’t too much of a concern, since plastic trombones are generally affordable, making them easy to replace. If you get a decent amount of usage out of it, you can’t be overly disappointed. Durability – A Damage Resistant Trombone

There can still be issues with durable material and certain components might be more vulnerable than others. I eventually joined a local community junior wind band. Not junior by age but by experience. There were many adults in it either learning for the first time like me or trying out second or third instruments. I sat next to Emily, aged ten, who was way ahead of me, and who I relied upon to put me right. (She now plays professionally in a military band).

Pick up a new passion with pBone

Compared to brass trombones that need polishing regularly plus all the other work that comes with owning a brass trombone (e.g. cleaning valves), plastic trombones require much less maintenance. While not all that common, if you're going to see a contrabass trombone in action anywhere, it'll be in the orchestra where it's primarily used to add texture and depth to the brass section. Find Out More Tromba’s plastic trombone is fairly standard: pitched to Bb with a 500 bore. The mouthpiece is a 12C small shank option, which is different from the 6.5AL and 11C pInstruments offers. However, any standard mouthpiece will fit. There are a number of great brands that manufacture plastic trombones, so there are always plenty to choose from. Some of the brands with stellar reputations include Vincent Bach, pPlayMusic, and Cool Wind.

You can choose between blue or red plastic for this instrument. The kit comes with a fabric bag for transport and access to free online music lessons. You don’t need to polish it as often, and you can even wipe them down with an anti-bacterial spray if needed. They’re much Cheaper

Plastic trombones are much easier to keep clean and scratch-free, which, if you’re still learning how to hold a trombone or play it, is an important consideration (avoiding damage means your instrument will last longer). The International Trombone Festival was held in Birmingham the year after I started to play, and I found myself performing in a section of learners, on the stage of Symphony Hall. Little did I know the year before that’s where I would be, after that CBSO concert. As we've just covered, yes! There are, in fact, no less than seven different sizes in the trombone family.

One of the biggest perks of using a plastic trombone is comfort. It doesn’t have the weight of a heavy brass trombone so you can hold it for longer without wearing yourself out. If it’s for a child who’s just learning, then the tonal quality will be acceptable, but if you plan on playing professionally or in a brass band, then you might want to consider buying a traditional brass trombone instead. Construction The lightweight pInstruments pBone plastic trombone comes with a standard .500 bore, ergonomic grip, pBone’s unique water key design, glass-fibre lookalike slide, matching pBone 6.5AL and 11C small shank mouthpieces, fabric carry case, six-month free membership to the International Trombone Association and free online lessons. Using a metal mouthpiece will improve the sound of this instrument. While you can get by with a plastic instrument, consider upgrading the mouthpiece.

How to hold a trombone

Not to be confused with the sopranino trombone, the soprano trombone is another smaller trombone. This one is actually more commonly played by trumpet players, as it's in the same pitch as the trumpet. In at number one, we have to recommend the Vincent Bach plastic trombone, which sounds the most like a brass trombone. It’s built like a standard trombone with a 500 bore, and it includes a small shank mouthpiece made of clear plastic. Hello, I’m David. I was waiting for the CBSO concert to begin and I could hear the brass section warming up in the wings. My wife lent over to me and said “Why don’t you get Katy’s (our youngest daughter) old trombone out and learn to play?” I’d been thinking of selling the instrument as it had been lying idle since she went to university. The concert started and I kept my eye on the trombone section throughout the performance. Ron finally persuaded me to take some exams as something to aim for, and at first, I reluctantly agreed. It certainly helped me to grow more confident and all the examiners were kind and appreciative of my efforts. Being older had definite advantages.